Inside The Oval Office Summary

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Analysis of Inside The Oval Office by William Doyle

Inside The Oval Office is a book written by William Doyle that explores the differences in the occupational tendencies of the Presidents of the United States since Franklin D. Roosevelt. The actual transcripts from calls and discussions from within the oval office walls in the White House give you a "behind the scenes" look at the Presidency in a manner that has never before been expressed, to my knowledge. Reading books of this nature are not only interesting, but they bring to light new perspectives that you may not have previously expected to think about. Some questions that are raised in this book range from the understanding particular Presidents had of certain key political events …show more content…

Despite the sometimes "pointed" commentary by officials providing the president with information, President Kennedy maintained his profile as "The Rational Executive" just as the chapter about him in this book is named (Doyle, 93). President Kennedy's tenure forced him to face some very difficult issues that were very important and had severe impacts on the way our country has been governed since. The civil rights movement, the bay of pigs and Cuban missile crisis just to name a few. President Kennedy, through no real fault of his own, took this country to the brink of nuclear war but by his swift, rational governing avoided catastrophe not only on the national level but also locally in situations such as the integration of The University of Mississippi (Doyle, 106). Keeping a calm and level head about the integration situation, Kennedy advised Governor Barnett on how to continue to maintain law and order, a civil protest (Doyle, 106). Even when the situation erupted into an uncontrollable riot, Kennedy took the ultimate blame on himself, "Kennedy cursed himself for not sending the troops in earlier" (Doyle, …show more content…

Most of what is discussed in Nixon's chapter entitled, "The Strategic Executive" is Nixon's strategies for controlling things outside the White House that most presidents never dreamed of controlling. Overstepping the boundaries of moral jeopardy several times, and especially during the Watergate scandal, Nixon discussed some of the most corrupt actions an executive of this magnitude could commit with people while being recorded. President Nixon served as the greatest postwar international strategist, but his problems of corruption, which didn't stop at Watergate, caused the weakening of his Presidency and ultimately instead of facing impeachment President Nixon resigned the off of President of the United States and left the tapes from his tenure behind to be found which further showed what a corrupt political figure he

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